Local band finds success in venues in Missouri

By Steve Moyer

Nevada Daily Mail

"A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house."

A band composed of local youths, Eleven 27, has learned the truth of that Scripture first hand, they have been successfully touring Missouri and Kansas but find audiences light on the ground here in the neck of the woods where they were born and raised. Loren DeBoutez, lead guitar; Jeremy Ruddick, drums; Matt DeBoutez, bass and Jon Farley vocals and guitar make up the band that was formed Nov. 27, hence the name.

"We're playing later this month down in Joplin," Loren DeBoutez said. He and Jeremy Ruddick paid a visit to the Daily Mail newsroom Friday to discuss their upcoming work. "We're going to be talking to Tim Moore later to see about doing something during Bushwhacker Days."

The band plays all around the area but not usually right in Nevada, although it has performed in the old Library building on the corner of Ash and Austin in the past and hopes to do so again. "We don't usually play in Nevada, DeBoutez said. "We play Springfield, K. C., Joplin all around. We play everything from coffeehouses to bars and even outside. We'd like to change that and play here more."

Three of the group, the two DeBoutezes and Ruddick have known each other all their lives, Farley is a more recent acquaintance. "Jeremy and I have known each other all our lives," DeBoutez said.

"Don't forget Matt," Ruddick threw in.

"Oh yeah, well sure and Matt, we've known each other all our lives," Deboutez said. "We've known Jon since last year."

The band will play in Frontenac, Kan., April 21, 22 and 23 during the Biker Blessing event. People from 20 states will participate.

Already this year the band has played a gig at the Fort Scott Community College and will return for the Spring Fling during the second week of May.

This spring the band is hoping to participate in Club Wars, a battle of the bands in Kansas City that pits local and regional bands against each other for a $1,000 prize.

The band is also looking to record a full length CD this summer in Kansas City.